Controlling device for automobile headlights



J; E. GRAY.' CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE uuouems APPLICATION FILED APR. I9. I92!- I 1,437,732 Patented Dec. 5, 1922 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

3, 10 is I K c, r fii fi ii. 171:: .W. H

J. E. GRAY.

CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE HEADLIGHTS. APPLICATION FILED APR I9. 1921.

. 1,437,732. Patented De0.5,1922.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

UNITED stings JAMES GRAY, or'iivn'wroiv, Iowa,

sometimes environ roe summ n nnanrjre-ir'rs." 1

Application filed-April 19,

To all whomt mag/concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. GRAY, aciti- Thenobjectof nay-invention is'to provide a simple,-.durableand inexpensive means for mounting and operating headlights for automobiles in such a manner that the lights may be moved by a suitable mechanism lo cated in the cowl to throw the projected rays of light either inn-horizontal orsverti cal plane. A furtherobject is to provide in sucha mechanism improved means of simple construction for mountingthelamps, and also improved mechanism for actuating theisaid lamps, the said improved mechanism including means, for adjusting all of the'pivot members so as to eliminate rattle oil: the pivot members andvibration ofthe lamps; A further object is to provide inmeehanism for mounting and controlling headlights, which are capable of universalmovement, improved means for adjusting the lamps so that theprojecting rays therefrom" may be either concentrated or spread overa greater area. Q

A still further object is to provide in a headlight for automobiles capableiof universal' movement and having means mounted in the cowl for operating the said he'ad lights, improved means'for locking the last said means against'movement after it has been adjusted. o

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art. '1 c l My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby-the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed outin claims, and illustratedin the accompanying drawings, in which: i

1921. Serial No. 452,68i. j

I Figure 1' is side elevation' of the front portion-of an automobile showing the manner in which my improved lamp supporting mechanism is applied thereto, a portion of the fenderrand one of the lamps being removed, part of theflmechan-ism being shown in dotted lines. o l v I Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. i Figure 3 is a plan view of Figure 2;

Figure e is a'sectional view of the rear end of the controlling'mechanism' showing the locking device in sectioinsaid device be ing mounted inlseginents of the dash and the cowl; i i igure 5 is a sectional view taken through the water container at the top of a radiator showingthe mannerv in which the control rod is mountedthere'in, and also showing a portion of the telescopic and pivoted mem bers in section. r I Figure 6 is a detail plan viewrofthe takeupdevice for the lamp pivots.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of F igure 6 showing one ofthe "pivots in position.

Figure 8 "is asectional view taken on the line 8+8 of Figure 6. i I I Figure 9 is a detail and sectional view of the pivot members for-supporting thelamps. "Figure lO-is a sectional view taken on the line 10-1O of. Figure 9f i -Figure-ll is an end elevation of Figure? Figure 12 is a detail[perspective view showing segmentsofthe locking members in operative positions relative to each other. The numeral 10. indicates the front poi tion of anautomobile which is provided with supports 11 at its' forward end suit ably mounted onYt-he frame in front of the radiator 12. Each of thesesupports is pro.

vided witha screw threaded opening which is designed to receive the threaded portion 13 ofthe socket member 14. This socket member le'is'designedto receivea ball 15 having a stem 16, the upperend'of said stem being provided with brackets 17; The said brackets 17 are designed to fitthe underand forward side of the lamps 18, said lamps being of the ordinary construction such as is used in lighting systems for automobiles. The said numeral 18 indicates the exterior casing of the lamps.

For mounting the ball within the socket member 14, I have provided in said member a laterally extending portion 19 which is provided with a groove 20, the said groove being circular in section with a slot 21 in its upper face. The slot 21 is of a width slightly greater than the diameter of the post 16 so that the ball 15 may be placed in the groove 20 and slid into the position illustrated in Figure'9'. The groove 20 is provided with a slide block 21? which has its inner end formed to fit the ball 15, while itsupper side is provided with a projection 22 to enter the slot 21 at the top of the groove 20. r

- The exterior portion of the member 19 is screw threaded and designed to receive a cap nut 23 which is designed to engage the outer end of the slide block 21 to force the said block inwardly against the ball 15, thereby providing means for locking the said ball in its socket and at the same time provide meansfor taking-up any wear which may be caused by the movement of the balls within the sockets.

In this connection, it will also be noted that this adjustment may be very delicately obtained. A look nut 24: is provided for securing the cap 23 in position. a

By this arrangement it will be seen that I have provided a pivot member for each of the lamps so arranged that the said lamps are capable of a limited universal movement.

For operating the lamps and imparting any desired movement thereto, I have provided adjacent to the rear side of the casings 18 pivoted pins 25 secured .in brackets 26, the pivot pins 25 being mounted in a vertical plane extending through the center of the-lamps, said plane being perpendicular to the faces, one of the pins being mounted to extend upwardly while the other is mounted to extend downwardly.

Each setof the said pins 25 is designed 'to carry a forked member 27, each of its prongs being provided with screw threaded portions 28, each of the said screw threaded portions having aslot 29, the said slot 29 being of a width slightly greater than the width of the pins 25.-.

Each of the slots 29 is designed to carry boxing members 30 which are slidably mounted therein, the said boxings being designed to fit the pins 25. A nut 31is provided at each end of the said boxings and designed to 'coact with the screw threaded portions 28 in such a manner that the said boxings 30 may be forced toward each other for the purpose of taking up any wear which might be obtained after being operated for some time. This also provides means for adjusting the lamps as Will hereinafter be described.

Each of the forked members 27 is secured to a corresponding end of a rod 32, the said rod 32 being of such a length that as the boxings 30 are positioned midway between the ends of the slots 29, the face of the lamps 18 will lay in a common plane. The forked members 27 are rigidly secured to the rod 32 so that any rotary movement of the said rod will impart a similar movement to each of the lamps. When the pins 25 have been mounted in the boxings 30 in the manner shown in Figure 2,'it will be seen that the said lamps are rigidly held against a tilting movement toward or from each other, but are capable of movement about a vertical or horizontal axis of the ball 15.

.The pivots 25 are placed back of the pivot centers of the balls 15 in such a manner that as a longitudinal movement is imparted to the shaft 32, a swinging movement will be imparted to thelamps 18 about. a vertical axis to the'oenter of the ball-15.

It will also be observed that on account of the rod 32 being placed at .a point above 1 a horizontal plane extending through the center of the ball 15, that any lateral movement imparted to the rod 32 will cause the lamps 18 to be rotated about a horizontal axis extending through the center of the balls 15.

By this arrangement, it will beobserved that the lamps may be tilted by imparting a longitudinal movement to the rod 32, or by imparting a lateral movement, or by imparting both of said'movements simultaneously.

For imparting these movements from the cowl of the automobile, I have provided the following mechanism. Mounted in the cowl and the dashboard of an automobile, I have provided a tube 33, one end. of said tube being screw threaded and provided with a tube 33, I have provided a shaft 39, the forward end of which extends through a bear- .i'

ing' member 40 whichextends through the radiator tank 11 andis sealed at $2 to form a water tight joint. The said shaft 39 extends forwardly and above the rod 32, the said: rod 32' being mounted preferably as close to the radiator as possible.

The forward end'of the shaft 39 is provided with a crank member 13 having a ta-- pering opening 4 designed to fit a taper on the end of the shaft 39, the said member 43 weaves being securedi'n position by meansof a nut 45-. The crank 43 is designed to extend downwardly in frontof the rod 32 and to have-slidably mounted 'a'sleeve46, the lower to-clamp a filter member 49 in position over the open end of'the'sleeve'lfito prevent dirt and foreign substances from entering the open end of the tube and also to'permit air to enter the tube as the sleeve is reciprocated on the-crank 43 so that the movementof the said crank will not be hindereddue to'creating vacuum on'the lower end of the said sleeve. g

The sleeve l6is provided with a laterally extending pin '50 which has a cone bearing member 51 and its end screwthreaded at 52. This pin is designed to receive a half boxing member 53, said boxing beingsecured. in position by means of a con'ebearing 54 held in position by means of nuts 55. These cone bearings provide means for takingup any wear between the pin 50 and the boxing 53. The pin 50 being arranged parallel with the shaft 39 and transversely with the shaft 32-, as clearly shown in Figure s The underside of the boxing member 53 is provided with a groove to fit the rod-32 and also designed to carry a bearing member 56 which is held in position by means of screws 57. These half bearing members are shimmed apart so that the said members are free to 'rotate about the shaft. The shims may be re moved for the purpose of adjusting the bearings for wear.

To prevent the bearings 53 and 56 from moving longitudinally on the rod 32 T have providedcollar members 58 at each end of said bearings, said collars being formed in twopieces and clamped tothe shaft by means of screws 57. Therearend of the shaft 39 is provided'v'vith a portion 59 which is of a smaller diameter than the main portion of the said shaft. This portion '59 extends through the opening 37 ofthe cap 36 and is 5 provided with a handle member 60.

In the lower side ofthemember 59, I have provided a slot 61 in which is ipivotally mounted a bar 62, the loweredge of said bar being provided with teeth 63. This bar is pivoted in the forwardendoftheslot 61 by means of a pivot 64; The rear end of the said bar 62 is" mounted on a bell :cranlrshaped trigger 65 which is mounted" in the handle'60 by means of a pivot'66 insuch manner that'as the finger member GT'o'f said lever is moved toward the handle SOthe rear end of the bar 62 will be elevated so that the teeth '63 may disengage the edge of the cap'37.

In this connection, it will be'no'ted that the distance between the teeth 63 is equal to the thicknessof thecap 37 and 'the te'eth'63and 38 are so arranged that the bar 62 may, rest;

between the teeth 38', and the edge of the cap 36 will rest between the teeth-63;

By this arrangement, I have provided a locking means whereby the shaft 39may be absolutely locked against longitudinal orro-' tary movement. The spring '68 is provided in the-shaft 39 and'above the bar 62 for yield inglyholding the said bar in its outer limit of movement. 1

" The practical operation of my device is substantially as follows:

-As'suming that the lamps and mechanism are in the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, and the rays of light from the.

lamps 18 are projected ina horizontal plane and parallel to each other.

i. Assuming that it is desired to elevate the projecting rays oflightjthe operator grasps the handle 60 and places his finger ahead of the trigger 67. The said trigger is then moved toward the handle 60. This will elevate the bar 62 so that the teeth 38 and 63 will disengage each other. I j

The handle 60 is then moved rearwardly whichwillcausethe shaft 39 to be moved longitudinallyand the shaft 32 to be moved laterally andrearwardly, This will cause both of the lamps to be moved simultaneously backward and the rays of light ele-, vated. The rays ofli-ghtmay be thrown downwardly by a reverse movement. I

If it is desired to; throw the rays of light either to thelleft or the right, the operator imparts a rotary movement to the shaft 39 through the handle 60. This causes the crank 43 to be oscillated; which in turn moves the shaft 32 longitudinally with itself, and the lamps swung about a vertical pivotas before "a tendency to be elevated or lowered, which movement will be taken care of by the sleeve 46.

By this arrangement,' thelamps may be quickly and accurately controlled from the handle 60 mounted'near the cowl, and the said lamps may be rigidly locked in any desired position, and when so locked, will be held against movement or vibration, provision'being made for taking up all wear which may be incurred by'use. I t -1t is sometimes desirable to focus the pro jectingrays of light which maybe easily and quickly accomplished by adjusting the nuts 31 on the for]: members 27, thereby throwing the pins 25 farther apart from eachlother.

This adjustment is also important due to the fact that the distance between the sup ports 11 vary in different machines andthis adjustment is necessary in order to easily and quickly focus the lights. I

By this construction, it will be seen that l have provided a single pivot member for eachv of the lamps, each of which is provided vith means for taking up the wear.

This single pivot is quite an advantage over the ordinary construction. which employs four pivots in order toobtain the universal. movement, inasmuch asit is necessary in a device of this kind that it should be formedas light as possible, andat the same time all moving parts should be adjusted to prevent unnecessary movement due to wear.

l have therefore, eliminated all but a sinsupporting bracket and a single pivot, and I have also eliminated a large amount of unnecessary links and operating devices for operating the lamps.

I claim as my invention:

l.. in a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of supports on said frame, a

single pivot member for universal movementon each of said supports, a lamp for each pivot member, a rod mounted between said lamps, each end of sald rod being provided with a pivot member having its axis at right 2. In a device of the class'clescribed, a

frame, apair of supports on said frame, a

single pivot for universal movement on each i of saidsnpports, a lamp casing on each of said pivots, pair of pivot members for each of said lamps, a rod having a forked end for each pair of said pivot members,

means for adjustably connecting each of said forked members with one of said pair of pivot members, means for imparting a longitudinal and lateral movement to said rod, and means for locking said rod in any position of its longitudinal or lateral move;- ment.

3. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of supports onsaid frame, a single pivot member for universal movement on each of said supports, a lamp for each pivot member, a rod mounted between said lamps, each end of said rod being 'provided with a pivot member having its axis at right angles to said rod, and said axes being in a common plane, means for pivotally connecting each of said lamps to a corre sponding pivot member of said rod at one side of the central axis of said support, in such a manner that if said rod is moved longitudinally or laterally a universal movement will be imparted to said lamps, means for imparting a longitudinal and lateral movement to said rod comprising a shaft arranged transversely with said rod, means for,

of pivot members for the back of each of lamp supported at its forward edge and its lower side to each of said brackets, a pair of pivot members for the back of each of said lamps in a plane with a corresponding ball, a horizontally arranged rod forked at each end, means for adjustably and pivotally connecting each member of said forks to a corresponding pivot member of said lamps, and means for moving said forked rod longitudinally or laterally to impart alimited universal movement to said lamps, said means comprising a shaft arranged with one end substantially perpendicular and adjacent to said forked rod capable of a rocking and longitudinal movement, means for operatively connecting the adjacent end of said shaft to said forkedrod, a handle for the opposite end ofsaid shaft, and means for locking said shaft in a number of its longitudinal or rotary positions of movement. I

6. A frame, a plurality of upright supports each provided with a socket in its upper end, a" ball for each of said sockets c,a pable of a limited universal movement and provided with a lamp supporting bracket, a lamp supported at its forward edge and its lower side to each of said brackets, a pair of pivot members for the back of each of said lamps in a plane with a corresponding ball, a horizontally arranged rod forked at each end, means for adjustably and pivotally connecting each member of said forks to a corresponding pivot member of said lamps, and means for moving said forked said means comprising a shaft arranged with one end substantially perpendicular and adjacent to said forked rod capable of I a rocking and longitudinal movement, telescopic and pivoted means for operatively connecting the adjacent end of said shaft to said forked rod, a handle for the opposite end of said shaft, and means for locking said shaft in a number of its longitudinal or rotary positions of movement.

7. A frame, a pair of supports, a lamp pivoted for universal movement on each of said supports, a rod pivotally connected with said lamps in such a manner that a longitudinal or laterhl movement of the same will impart a universal movement to said lamps, a shaft having one end near said rod and substantially perpendicular thereto, a divided bearing member rotatively mounted on said rod, adjustable means for securing said members together, a collar on said rod at each end of said bearing member, a sleeve member pivotally connected to one of said bearing members, a crank memher for the adjacent end of said shaft slidably mounted in said sleeve, a handle for the opposite end of said shaft, and means for locking said shaft in any of its positions of movement.

8. The combination of an automobile chassis having lamp supports, a dash member and a cowl board, a lamp pivotally cap.

rod and provided with teeth to coact with the teeth in said rack, and means for moving said rack out of engagement with the teeth of said cap. v

9. In a device of the class described, a frame, a plurality of lamps on said frame mounted for limited universal movement,

a tube in said frame, a cap for one end of said tube having an opening, the inner edge of saidopening being provided with teeth, a shaft rotatively mounted in said tube and extending through the opening of said cap, said shaft being capable of longitudinal or rotative movement, means connected with one end of said shaft and with said lamps, a handle on the opposite end of said shaft adjacent to said cap, said shaft being pro-. vided with a slot adjacent to said handle, a pivoted bar in said slot having one edge provided with teeth designed to engage said cap between the teeth therein to prevent 10ngitudinal or rotative movement of said shaft, and means for moving the teeth of said bar out of engagement with the teeth of said cap.

10. The combination of an automobile chassis having lamp supports, a cowl board, a lamp-pivot'ally mounted on each of said supports for a limited universal movement,

with" an opening having internal teeth, a shaft rotatively and slidably mounted in the opening ofsaid cap, means for operatively' connecting the end of said shaft to said lamps whereby a longitudinal or rotative movement of said shaft will impart universal movement to said lamps, a handle on the opposite end of said shaft, a slot in said shaft adjacent to said handle, a toothed rack in said slot adapted to engage the teeth of said cap and means for moving said rack out of engagement with the teeth of said DesMoines, Io-wa,April 11, 1921.

JAMES E. GRAY.

p a capmounted on said cowl and provided 

